The Court remands this unlawful detainer action to the state court summarily, because it was removed improperly.

On January 9, 2015, David E. Martinez ("Defendant") filed a Notice of Removal of an unlawful detainer action commenced by a complaint filed against him on October 22, 2014 (the "Complaint"), in Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 14U13690. Defendant also presented an application to proceed in forma pauperis. The Complaint alleges what appears to be a routine state law unlawful detainer claim against Defendant (the "Unlawful Detainer Action"). The Court has denied the in forma pauperis applications under separate cover, because the Unlawful Detainer Action was not properly removed. To prevent the Unlawful Detainer Action from remaining in jurisdictional limbo, the Court issues this Order to remand the action to the state court.

Defendant alleges that the Complaint is removable, because this Court has original jurisdiction over the Unlawful Detainer Action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1443(1). Defendant alleges that Section 1443(1) jurisdiction exists, because he is being deprived of due process by the manner in which the Unlawful Detainer Action is being litigated. Defendant complains that plaintiff and his attorney are not complying with California's Code of Civil Procedure and Evidence Code and that plaintiff's attorney has used counsel's legal knowledge to prevent Defendant from fully and accurately presenting his case. Defendant also complains that California's evidentiary rules prevent him from proffering evidence that is unauthenticated and not based on his personal knowledge. Defendant asserts that, therefore, he is being denied due process and equal protection in the Unlawful Detainer Action.

A petition for removal under § 1443(1) must satisfy the two-part test articulated by the Supreme Court in Georgia v. Rachel, 384 U.S. 780, 788-92, 794-804, 86 S.Ct. 1783, 16 L.Ed.2d 925 (1966) and City of Greenwood, Miss. v. Peacock, 384 U.S. 808, 824-28, 86 S.Ct. 1800, 16 L.Ed.2d 944 (1966). "First, the petitioners must assert, as a defense to the prosecution, rights that are given to them by explicit statutory enactment protecting equal racial civil rights." California v. Sandoval, 434 F.2d 635, 636 (9th Cir.1970). "Second, petitioners must assert that the state courts will not enforce that right, and that allegation must be supported by reference to a state statute or a constitutional provision that purports to command the state courts to ignore the federal rights." Id.

Neither part of this test is satisfied by Defendant's allegations. He does not contend that he is being deprived of racial equality by the matters he alleges. Nor does Defendant point to any formal expression of state law that prohibits him from enforcing his civil right to racial equality in state court or which suggests that the state court would not enforce this right in the Unlawful Detainer Action. Accordingly, the Court lacks original jurisdiction over the Unlawful Detainer Action pursuant to Section 1443(1). No other basis for federal question jurisdiction is apparent on the face of the Complaint.[1]

Defendant does not, and could not, contend that diversity jurisdiction exists. The Complaint shows that the amount in controversy does not exceed the diversity jurisdiction threshold of $75, 000. Indeed, the Complaint expressly alleges that the amount demanded "does not exceed $10, 000." Thus, diversity jurisdiction is also lacking. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a).

The Complaint does not allege any basis for federal subject-matter jurisdiction, and thus, there is no basis for concluding that the Unlawful Detainer Action could have been brought in federal court in the first place. Therefore, removal was improper. 28 U.S.C. § 1441; see Exxon Mobil Corp v. Allapattah Svcs., Inc., 545 U.S. 546, 563, 125 S.Ct. 2611 (2005).

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that: (1) this matter be REMANDED to the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 Hill Street, Rm 102, Los Angeles, 90012, for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c); (2) the Clerk shall send a certified copy of this Order to ...

Our website includes the first part of the main text of the court's opinion.
To read the entire case, you must purchase the decision for download. With purchase,
you also receive any available docket numbers, case citations or footnotes, dissents
and concurrences that accompany the decision.
Docket numbers and/or citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a
legal proceeding. Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision. If the document contains a simple affirmation or denial without discussion,
there may not be additional text.

Buy This Entire Record For
$7.95

Download the entire decision to receive the complete text, official citation,
docket number, dissents and concurrences, and footnotes for this case.